Newsletter 2026 V1 Article - Ask a Money Guide

Q: How can I do less financial damage next holiday season?

The holidays can be joyful but also surprisingly expensive. If you found yourself overspending this past year, now is the perfect time to set up habits that will make next season easier on your wallet. 

Start by setting up a Holiday Club account. This account is designed for small, steady deposits throughout the year. I recommend setting up an automatic transfer of a set amount to the account each time you get paid. The money that you save in that account is transferred into your checking account on September 30 to fund your holiday needs. This can help you avoid last minute scrambling or relying on credit cards. 

We also offer a round-up feature with our checking accounts. This feature will round-up debit card transactions to the nearest dollar and that difference will automatically go to the savings account that you choose. This can be a small but intentional way of saving to help better plan your holiday spending. 

We know that holiday spending isn’t the only financial stressor for many of us. Vacations, travel, summer activities, and back-to-school costs can hit hard when they arrive all at once. When we overspend on other things, holiday shopping can all end up on a credit card. Create a simple savings plan to set aside funds each paycheck for big expenses, and consider creating separate goal savings accounts for each item to help smooth out those big expenses so they don’t pile up at the end of the year.

If you would like assistance with any of the options I've laid out, please make an appointment with a Money Guide for free 1-1 financial coaching. 

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